Category Archives: Seattle Real Estate

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What is going into this space, just east of the Ballard bridge? Read on.

So what’s happening with that empty lot south of the Ballard Blocks? A second Ballard Blocks complex is planned, and some businesses have already signed on. A couple different theories as to why the space development for that block was previously put on-hold include the financial strife of the former recession and another, the drainage problem the area is reportedly plagued with.

Looking east from the Ballard bridge at the current Ballard Blocks complex. New development will be to its right.

PCC Community Markets will almost certainly be the anchor business located at 1451 NW 46th Street, on the west end of the block next to the Ballard bridge. Permits have not been issued yet, but last year the city conditionally granted approval for this building project to move ahead, although the decision can be appealed through January 25th. A new 25,000 square foot co-op is planned to open in spring 2019, with a projected 100 unionized jobs. It will be interesting to see how this store melds with our many other nearby grocery options: Ballard Market, Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer’s food section, a New Seasons store under construction, and right across the street, Trader Joe’s. This PCC store will not replace the Fremont store, which will receive an upgrade.

The proposed new site, look west. Renderings: Weber Thompson

A walkway and seating area will lead from PCC between two businesses on the east end of the block, which will include West Marine. The all-things-marine/boat store will be located on the southeast corner and will also have about 25,000 square feet in their 2-story building. West Marine has two other established stores in Seattle as well: Shilshole Bay and Interbay. The future 12,000 sq. foot 3rd floor in the 5-story building on the northeast corner of the block is reserved for Bright Horizons childcare center, according to the leasing company, Real Retail. A fun feature of Bright Horizons’ space is a planned skybridge that will lead to West Marine’s roof to access an area for kids to play outside.

At the time of this writing, some spaces were still open for lease. There’s a retail kiosk space with about 950 sq. feet available near the southeast corner. In the northeast building, floors 1 & 2 would work for retail, and floors 4-5 are set up for office spaces, with a large rooftop deck. Total parking around or underneath the entire south Ballard Blocks will be approximately 300 stalls.

Our Ballard neighborhood continues to be a hot ticket item in the Seattle real estate market. Our neighborhood had 46 sales last month; 7 more than last year. Like many other Seattle neighborhoods, the inventory remains low leading prices to rise. The average sales price for a Ballard home was at $684,508 in July of 2016, the number jumped to $781,272 this July. The highest cost for a Ballard home sold was at $1,600,000 compared to just $960,000 last July. Single-family homes in Ballard were on the market for an average of 7 days last month versus 17 days last July. There are currently 19 active listings and 44 pending.

Past Sale by Ewing and Clark

Ballard condo sales were down last month compared to July 2016. There were 7 less sales but reports show an increase in prices. The average sales price rose from $349,991 (July 2016) to $496,101 (July 2017). The highest cost for a Ballard condominium jumped from $425,00 to $680,000, and the median price increased from $378,000 to $505,000. There are currently 5 active condominium listings and 16 pending.

We Ballardites know that we’re lucky enough to live in the BEST neighborhood in Seattle, right? Well, now’s our chance to let the whole city know!

The 2016 Curbed Cup is up for grabs and it’s down to us, Vs Columbia City. That’s right, we have made it all the way to the final round!

Now, it’s time to bring it home. With 5 (yes, F-I-V-E) days to vote for Ballard, and a community of crazy-proud inhabitants, it would be a cinch to take the title. That is, THE title, the whole shebang, The Curbed Cup.

Head over to Curbed Seattle to cast your vote (or click here and skip the extra typing) for our ‘hood before midnight tonight for it to count.

And don’t just stop there, share the link with your friends! Text, them, email them, bribe them into casting their vote, whatever you have to do, get others to join so we can come out on top!

The title is within our grasp, so close we can taste it, let’s not let it slip away! We all know Ballard is where it’s at, let’s make sure everyone else does too!

Ballard saw brisk sales activity in October with 52 properties sold, including 13 condos and 39 single-family homes. Though sales volumes were steady over the year, with an almost identical number of properties sold as in October 2014 (53), average sales price increased by 15 percent over the year to $573,254. Homes are selling quickly, with most only lasting on the market for approximately a week. Only 10 single-family homes were on the market for more than seven days in October, and condos sold in an average of 6 days.

Condo sales prices ranged from $260,500 for a 700-square-foot unit in a 1981 building at 11th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street, to $425,000 for a 923-square-foot unit near the Ballard Locks. The lowest priced single-family (non-townhouse) home sale came in at $450,000 for a 1908 Craftsman in Loyal Heights; and at the high end, two new-construction modern homes on 23rd Avenue Northwest sold for $1.15 million each. Only four properties sold for below list price, and of the 52 properties sold, 35 sold for more than list price. The highest list-to-sales-price ratio came in at 122 percent for a 1967 715-square-foot condo a block from Ballard Commons Park.

If you’re curious what your Ballard home would sell for, please contact one of our agents for a free market analysis!

The month of June has come and gone, and both the weather and Seattle’s real estate market have been extremely impressive. It’s well known that the summer months typically signal the busiest time of year for the real estate market, and the Ballard neighborhood has been quite dynamic. Let’s take a look at some of the real estate highlights for the month of June in Ballard:

According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, June brought about the sale of 44 single-family homes. The median sales price of those 44 homes was approximately $638,511. The homes that sold in the month of June averaged being on the open market for just 9 days, in line with the average for homes in Seattle. The total dollar amount of those transactions totaled roughly $28,094,497. Not a bad month’s work!

There were also 11 condominiums sold in Ballard in June at a median sales price of $375,958, and those units averaged being on the market for 46 days.

As you can see by the statistics provided above, the real estate market in Ballard continues to be extremely active, and we don’t anticipate that to change as we get deeper into the summer months. For more information on Ballard (and Seattle) real estate, or if you are curious about what your house might be worth in this strong market, please contact your local real estate broker for a free market analysis and conversation about your home.

If you live in Ballard, you’ve likely seen the Mars Hill mega church that sits directly across from the Trader Joe’s store. Reported in the Puget Sound Business Journal today, the church bought the property for $4.8 million in 2003, and keeping it within faith-devoted family, just sold it to local church Quest for $9 million. The Ballard location was the most valuable of 15 the locations the church owned across 5 states.

Additionally Mars Hill is selling their 40,000-sf corporate facility at 1411 N.W. 50th Street, as well as their Sammamish building which offers 30,000-sf and around two-acres of land. Both properties asking price is $6.9 million and with Seattle’s real estate industry booming, these properties are catching the interest of retail and office developers.

This beautiful three-bedroom home in Blue Ridge overlooking the Puget Sound and Olympics is on the market for the first time in 37 years! Classic features such as hardwood floors, French doors, and a fireplace alongside modern amenities make this an extremely comfortable home. Enjoy a large wrap-around lot featuring Italianate terraces, lush greenery, and the ever-present mountain and sound views. Extraordinary construction and details, fantastic living spaces, gracious scale, and old-world ambiance. Two-car garage with storage. If you are interested in this home or other homes in the neighborhood, contact your real estate agent today!

September was another strong real estate month in the Ballard market. During that time we saw an 8% increase in the number of new listings that hit the market but at the same time there were 20% fewer active listings available for purchase when compared to September 2013. While more homes came on the market this past September than the previous year, it still did not make up for the overall low inventory of homes that has plagued the Ballard area. Inventory levels are at a one month supply which is the lowest level in King County. As a result, we saw the median home price rise this past September in part due to fewer homes available to purchase. The median single family home price on closed sales in Ballard was $524,500 last month. That is a 12% increase when compared to September of 2013 where the median home price of a sold home was $468,500. With interest rates still at historic lows and Ballard attracting a lot of buyers, this trend of low inventory and high prices is set to continue. If you would like more information on the Ballard real estate market, please feel free to reach out.

*Statistics not compiled or published by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service

The 2014 real estate market in Ballard has been one of low inventory and high prices which is also the trend for the entire North Seattle market. When looking at the year to date figures, the average single family home price has increased by almost $40,000 which is about an 8% increase when compared to the first seven months of 2013. When looking at the year to date median single family home price, that has increased by over 10% when compared to 2013. These increases are a result of the market trends that show Ballard is a top Seattle neighborhood to purchase in as well as the low inventory levels have caused home prices to increase.

Another figure that can help explain the current market conditions in North Seattle is that the number of sales closed has decreased by almost 5%. While it is hard to pin point the exact reason for this, one explanation could be that some buyers are stepping out of the market in the short term because they are tired of losing out on homes that they made offers on. When looking back on the Ballard real estate market in 2014, buyers are losing out on homes even when offering well above asking price. This frustration in my opinion is part of the reason for fewer sales in 2014.

For more information about the Ballard real estate market or if you are looking to buy or sell your come, please feel free to contact me.

*Statistics not compiled or published by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service

This beautiful Broadview neighborhood home is pleasantly positioned on a large corner lot with views to the northwest of the Sound and Olympics. This easy, one-level home has a circular floor plan and maximizes every square foot of livable space. The sizable living room features a wood fireplace and corner windows looking out to views. Clean, sweet, period kitchen has gas stove, and the family room located in the back of the house is perfect for relaxing and watching a movie! In floor radiant heat throughout home, and huge yard is ready for you to put your thumbprint on it. If you’re interested in this or other neighborhood homes, please contact your real estate agent today.

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BALLARD IN A NUTSHELL

Ballard is a Seattle neighborhood located northwest of downtown. Ballard is known for its nordic and maritime roots and is home to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Today the area is a popular living location with hip restaurants and a thriving condominium community.